Cheddar Cheese vs Mahón-Menorca Cheese

In this article, we’ll explore the answers to the most common questions about Cheddar Cheese and Mahón-Menorca Cheese, including:

  • "What is the difference between Cheddar Cheese and Mahón-Menorca Cheese?"
  • "Is Cheddar Cheese and Mahón-Menorca Cheese the same?"
  • "How does Cheddar Cheese compare to Mahón-Menorca Cheese cheese?"
  • "How does the taste of Cheddar Cheese compare to Mahón-Menorca Cheese?"
  • "Is Cheddar Cheese or Mahón-Menorca Cheese better?"

Cheddar Cheese Overview

Cheddar cheese, perhaps the most famous cheese from England, originated in the village of Cheddar in Somerset. It ranges from mild to extra sharp, with aging times that can extend several years. Cheddar has a firm texture and a deep, nutty flavor that becomes increasingly complex as it matures.

Mahón-Menorca Cheese Overview

Mahón-Menorca is a cow's milk cheese from the island of Menorca in the Balearic Islands. It has a square shape with rounded edges and is known for its orange rind and soft to hard texture depending on age. The flavor is slightly salty and tangy, with buttery notes in younger cheeses and a sharper taste in older ones.

Comparing the Two Cheeses

Ranking

Cheddar is ranked #1 out of 375 types.

Mahón-Menorca is ranked #221 out of 375 types.

Country of Origin

Cheddar Cheese comes from United Kingdom. Mahón-Menorca Cheese originated from Spain.

Certification

Many cheeses have some kind of protected status that makes it so they can only be produced in a certain manner and location. Cheddar is not a protected cheese. Mahón-Menorca Cheese has a PDO (1985).

Milk Type and Treatment

Cheddar Cheese is made with cow, goat, sheep, or buffalo milk that is typically raw, pasteurized, or thermized. Mahón-Menorca Cheese is made with cow or sheep milk that is typically raw.

Composition and Texture

Cheddar Cheese has a fat content of at least 50% fat in dry matter and a moisture content of up to 39%. Cheddar's texture can be described as "varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline)". Mahón-Menorca's texture can be described as "firm".

Flavor and Aroma

Cheddar Cheese has a mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory flavor. Cheddar's aroma can be described as "varies". Mahón-Menorca Cheese has a salty and spicy flavor. Mahón-Menorca's aroma can be described as "lactic, buttery".

Appearance and Aging

Cheddar Cheese's appearance is colored natural or dyed orange , is available in tiny truckles to 650-pound blocks and is aged a few months to several years . Mahón-Menorca Cheese has a color of ivory-yellow to orangey or brownish gray , comes in parallelepiped shape and has an aging period of tender: 21-60 days, semi-cured: 2-5 months, vintage: >5 months .

Rind and Rennet Type

Cheddar Cheese's rind is described as varies (natural, cloth, wax, plastic) . Mahón-Menorca Cheese's rind is described as characteristic orangish , with vegetable (cynara cardunculus) rennet.

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Cheddar Cheese Mahón-Menorca Cheese
Country of Origin United Kingdom Spain
Specific Origin Southwest (Somerset, Gloucester) Menorca, Balearic Islands
Certification None PDO (1985)
Milk Type Cow's, sometimes goat's, sheep's, or buffalo's Friesian, Menorcan, Brown Alpine cow’s milk, some ewe’s milk (max 5%)
Milk Treatment Raw, Thermized, Pasteurized Raw or any authorized preservation technology
Fat Content At least 50% fat in dry matter
Moisture Content Up to 39%
Rind Varies (natural, cloth, wax, plastic) Characteristic orangish
Texture Varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) Firm
Flavor Mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory Salty and spicy
Aroma Varies Lactic, buttery
Colors Natural or dyed orange Ivory-yellow to orangey or brownish gray
Forms Tiny truckles to 650-pound blocks Parallelepiped shape
Age A few months to several years Tender: 21-60 days, Semi-cured: 2-5 months, Vintage: >5 months
Rennet Type Vegetable (Cynara cardunculus)

Compare Cheddar Cheese to Other Cheeses

Compare Mahón-Menorca Cheese to Other Cheeses